Thanks to the mandates issued by Wal-Mart, the DOD, and many others, deployment of wireless inventory-tracking systems is moving at a fast pace. At the same time, the field of wireless technology is making great strides, indicative of an emerging trend and the importance of having ubiquitous access to all constituents of a supply chain network. Through wireless technology, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and any necessary third party or intermediary can have untethered access to exactly what is happening within a total system. With the expected removal of constraints to the adoption of wireless technology, such as disparate standards, low bandwidths, and high infrastructure costs, wireless is being adopted for a host of applications voice and messaging, handheld devices, Internet-enabled equipment, and data networking.

Computers are being connected to allow remote monitoring and data acquisition, to provide access control and security, and to introduce a solution for environments where wires may not be appropriate. Cellular phones, pagers, and two-way business radios can now provide voice and messaging services. Internet-enabled cell phones and personal digital assistants have appeared to connect users to the Internet across a wireless system. New protocols have been introduced just for these devices. Wireless local area networks, for example, can provide the final few feet of access to mobile users and wired systems within a building, restaurant, store, or home.

Broadband wireless is another emerging technology that allows simultaneous delivery of voice, data, and video and could become a competitor...